But with the 16th U.S. edition of the series set to debut Friday on FX, some pundits have expressed doubt in regards to the remaining viability of the show and its ability to find quality prospects and expose the sport to new eyes.

To hear “The Ultimate Fighter 15″ winner Mike Chiesa tell it, the importance of the show to the sport’s future remains at an all-time high.

“You look at guys like Rashad Evans, Forrest Griffin, Michael Bisping – guys that have won world titles, guys that are top contenders in their weight classes – they’ve all been through the show and been through the process,” Chiesa told USA TODAY Sports. “By all means, I am not categorizing myself with those guys. I have a long way to go. I haven’t even fought a fight outside of the ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ banner yet, but people need to tune in because these are the prospects.

“All these guys they bring in, these guys are prospects that the UFC is looking at. You’re watching the cream of the crop for up-and-coming prospects, and you’re putting them in this pressure cooker and making them fight each other.”

The new season features 32 welterweights all vying for one six-figure UFC contract. Friday’s debut episode, a two-hour special that airs on FX (9 p.m. ET), sees the 32-fighter field cut in half by way of 16 elimination fights. The winners then move into the “TUF” house, where they are cut off from the outside world while working their way through the remainder of the tournament under the tutelage of opposing coaches Shane Carwin (12-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) and Roy Nelson (17-7, 4-3), who also will fight at the conclusion of the series.

Chiesa, whose father died on the fighter’s first day in the house just one season ago, said the atmosphere is among the most intense any prospective UFC fighter ever will face.

“Honestly, it’s a really hard thing to prepare for,” Chiesa said. “I thought the seclusion from reality wouldn’t get to me, but it really gets to you. There’s really no way to prepare for ‘The Ultimate Fighter.’

“I think it’s best if guys just go in there open-minded. Don’t commit yourself that you’re prepared to be secluded, away from your family, away from your training partners. Just go in with an open mind and soak it in. Still, I think that no matter what you do, at some point the show is going to creep up on you. At some point, you’re going to have some kind of a breakdown.”

Nelson, who earned his way into the UFC as the winner of “The Ultimate Fighter 10,” said his time as coach on the series was even more difficult than his stint as a contestant.

“I’d rather be a contestant than a coach again,” Nelson admitted. “As much as fighters say it sucks, it’s because they haven’t experienced both of them. When you’re a contestant, you only have one goal, and that’s to win the whole thing. As a coach, you have so many other goals you’re trying to accomplish, and you have to have the whole team working with you.”

Carwin admitted he also initially struggled with the decision to take a role as coach and leave his family behind in Colorado during the six-week filming session in Las Vegas. Still, when the taping wrapped earlier this week, Carwin said he enjoyed the experience.

“I was a little hesitant at first,” Carwin said. “I have a family that I have to take care of first, so making sure they were taken care of and knowing what my roles and responsibilities were was a priority if I was on board. But it was a great experience. It taught me a lot about myself and little things that may even be a little life-changing in regards to dealing with people and managing situations.

“I think this season is different from some of the other seasons. Fans will have to tune in, but I think there were some things that happened this season that have never happened before.”

Next week, the UFC launches its second international version of “TUF” with “The Ultimate Fighter: Australia vs. U.K.” debut, which airs on FX in Australia, ESPN in the U.K. and streams on TUF.tv worldwide. The company also recently announced plans to debut “TUF: India” in 2013, and “TUF: Brazil” also returns next year. UFC President Dana White has mentioned the ultimate goal is a “TUF” world cup, pitting international winners against each other in a global tournament. It’s an ambitious plan, but one which the fiery executive truly believes will happen.

In the meantime, Chiesa recommends fans tune in to keep an eye on future superstars of the sport.

“You get to see good fights,” Chiesa said. “You get to see these guys and see what kind of people they are and see how they evolve as individuals. It’s cool to say you watched them go from being on ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ to doing big things.

“People need to tune in because it’s good fighting, and you’re seeing the future of the sport right before your eyes.”

Of course, if you like your entertainment a little more elementary, Nelson believes “TUF” is still the right show for you.

“It’s like ‘Jersey Shore’ meets real life with real fighting,” Nelson said. “It’s just more exciting when you get the dynamic of 16 guys’ attitudes and seeing how they correspond with everyone else’s. When you have 16 men and a lot of testosterone, a lot of things kind of jump off – especially when you have a bunch of young guys. It’s like a bunch of schoolgirls going at it.”